{\rtf1\ansi\deff0
{\fonttbl
{\f0\froman Times;}
{\f1\fmodern Courier New;}
{\f2\fswiss Arial;}
}
{\stylesheet
{\snext0 Normal;}
{\*\cs1 \additive Default Paragraph Font;}
{\*\cs2 \additive \i\sbasedon1 html-ital;}
{\*\cs3 \additive \b\sbasedon1 html-bold;}
{\*\cs4 \additive \f1\sbasedon1 html-code;}
{\s20\ql \f1\fs18\lang1024\noproof\sbasedon0 \snext0 html-pre;}
{\s31\ql \keepn\sb90\sa180\f2\fs32\ul\sbasedon0 \snext0 html-head1;}
{\s32\ql \keepn\sb90\sa180\f2\fs28\ul\sbasedon0 \snext0 html-head2;}
{\s33\ql \keepn\sb90\sa180\f2\fs25\ul\sbasedon0 \snext0 html-head3;}
{\s34\ql \keepn\sb90\sa180\f2\fs22\ul\sbasedon0 \snext0 html-head4;}
{\s35\ql \keepn\sb90\sa180\f2\fs20\ul\sbasedon0 \snext0 html-head5;}
{\s36\ql \keepn\sb90\sa180\f2\fs18\ul\sbasedon0 \snext0 html-head6;}
}
{\colortbl;\red255\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;}
{\info{\doccomm generated by HTML::FormatRTF (v2.04, using HTML::TreeBuilder v3.23, and HTML::Parser v3.61)}
{\author [see doc]}{\company [see doc]}{\operator [see doc]}
}
\deflang1033\widowctrl
{\header\pard\qr\plain\f2\fs17
p.\chpgn\par}
\fs22
{\pard\sa330\li0\ri0\ql\plain
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
\s31\ql\keepn\f2\fs32\ul
Helping others act on what is known
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
03/14/2014
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
Visualizations help people develop mental models that allow them to
picture invisible forces at work in the physical world,\uc1\u8221?
says Dr. Peter Mahaffy. He believes that learning chemistry happens
best when people have molecular\_level images of chemical substances
and reactions they can connect to what they observe and what they
see represented symbolically.
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
Today\uc1\u8217?s powerful computer tools make this possible. Mahaffy,
his colleague Dr. Brian Martin, and several King\uc1\u8217?s students
are creating such visualizations at the King\uc1\u8217?s Centre for
Visualization in the Sciences (www.kcvs.ca). Their website offers
interactive 3D modeling resources in these areas: global climate change,
modern physics, special relativity, astronomy, chemistry, mathematical
modeling, elementary science, and the multiple uses of chemicals.
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
\uc1\u8220?We\uc1\u8217?re no longer limited to static, two\_dimensional
images,\uc1\u8221? Mahaffy says. \uc1\u8220?We can use teaching packages
that introduce molecular dynamics and watch the light bulbs go on
in students eyes when they \uc1\u8216?see\uc1\u8217? for the first
time why ice cubes float or what an aquated ion in solution really
\uc1\u8216?looks\uc1\u8217? like.\uc1\u8221?
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
Mahaffy hopes such tools will help people address the complex problems
facing today\uc1\u8217?s world.
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
The climate\_change visualization begins with fundamental climate
science. The resource was produced at KCVS as a joint project with
the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and UNESCO,
and in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in the
UK, the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the \'46ederation of
African Societies of Chemistry.
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
Learners are invited to look at past data on temperature and concentrations
of greenhouse gases. Using digital learning objects, they begin to
see how increased carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere
can lead to a drop in ocean pH and in reduction of the carbonate concentrations
needed for marine organisms to form their exoskeletons.
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
\uc1\u8220?We leave viewers with a sense of empowerment for what can
be done,\uc1\u8221? says Mahaffy. The final lesson breaks down the
problem of increasing levels of carbon in the atmosphere over the
next 50 years, and learners explore the effect that various strategies
related to energy, land use, etc., can play in stabilizing atmospheric
carbon.
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
KCVS began in 2005 as a pilot program with funding from the Canadian
government. Today it relies on grants and partnerships with other
organizations to keep its researchers creating resources. Mahaffy
is committed to keeping the information public.
\par}
{\pard\sa220\li0\ri0\ql\plain
\uc1\u8220?Growing up in East Africa, I know there are people in the
world who have amazing creativity but limited financial resources,\uc1\u8221?
he says. He hopes that the work he and others are doing will help
people around the world find solutions that can transform lives.
\par}
}